Package of cans



March 25, 1958 N. ANDR E PACKAGE OF CANS I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 25, 1956 INVENTOR. NOBLE ANDRE A TTORNEVS March 25, 1958 N. ANDRE PACKAGE OF CANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 25, 1956 INVENTOR. NOBLE ANDRE nited States PACKAGEOF CANS Noble Andr, San Francisco, Calif.

Application January 23, 1956, Serial No. $30,519

4 Claims. (Cl. 206-65) The separately packaged groups noted above are preferably similar to thetype disclosed in my copending application for United States Letters Patent, Serial No. 400,675, filed December 28, 1953. p

The packaging of beverages and various products in cylindrical cans having radially outwardly projecting chimes at their ends, is old, and within recent years various types of handy carrier-cartons have been usedso that a consumer purchaser may conveniently carry a package of three or six cans at a time. These carrier-type cartons have been designed to attractively display the name of the product enclosed thereby, and they must necessarily be economical to make and to pack inasmuch as no extra charge therefor is made to the purchaser.

Heretofore it has been customary to pack the filled carrier-type cartons in corrugated fibreboard cases, or the like,- so that there will be, for example, twenty-four cans to a case, and it has been the practice to use a relatively expensive conventional case or carton for this purpose. Such conventionalcases have the usual four side walls and the four lapping folding flaps at'the top and at the bottom, which folding flaps must be glued in closed position after the blank from which the case is formed has been stapled or glued in a form that enables it to beset up 'for filling. Such cartons orcases are usually imprinted with the name of the-products enclosed thereby.

.One of the objects of the present invention is the provision ,of-acase or carton in the form of a strip-like blank that is adapted to be quickly folded about a plurality of the smaller filled carrier-type, cartons and which blank,

when so folded, is provided with means adapted to cooperate with-certain of such cartons for holding the carrier type cartons securely together so that a standard case lot of cans, for example, may be safely handled as a unit in the same manner as where the more expensive andmorecornplieated conventional cases were used.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a method of packaging groups of cans in case lots that is more economical and faster thanheretofore and in which the blanks enclosing the groups of cansin a case cooperate with thecasefor holding the case about the cans. Other objects and advantages will. appear in the description and inthe drawings.

In the drawings, Fig. l is a plan view of the outer blank that forms the case for the several groups of cans.

, Fig 2 is a; perspective view Olf the blank of Fig. 1 in position around a plurality of groups of cans and which groups are enclosed in inner cartons or carriers, the outer" ice blank or case being broken away to show the inner cartons more clearly and to show the structure of the latter.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the case of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the rear end of the case of Fig. 2.

In detail, Fig. 1 shows a strip-like blank 1 of rectangular form divided transversely by parallel folding creases or scores 2, 3, 4, 5 (from left to right as seen in Fig. 1) to provide panels 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.

The panels 6, 310 are at the ends of the strip, hence form end marginal portions, and when the blank is tfolded to enclose the goods, as will later be described, the panel will par-tiallyoverlap the panel 6.

Corresponding arcuate cuts 11 are formed in the panel 7 along the fold line or crease 2 ate'qually spaced points along said fold line, the spacing being substantially equal to the center to center distance between a pair of the cylindrical cans that are in each of 'the groups of cans to be enclosed by blank 1, when the cans of such pair are in side by side relationship with their chimes in engagement. The ends of each'cut 11 terminates along the fold line 2 and it is pertinent to note that the crease or score 2 does not extend between the ends of each cut. Thus the cuts will form part of the line of weakness 2.

The same type of cuts 12 are formed along told line 3 and these also extend into panel 7, and corresponding cuts 13, 14 are respectively formed along the fold lines 5, 5 and extend into panel 9.

Panels 7, 9 are of the same width and constitute two of the opposed side panels when the blank 1 is folded so that said panels are at right angles to panel 8.

At the far end of the View (Fig. 2 one of the inner sixpack'carrie'r cartons isshown, and is generally designated 16. The blank from which this inner canton is formed is quite similar to the blank shown in said application and theblank, except for size,=is' similar to the blank ll, having four main folding creases at 17, 13, 19, along the four corners of the carrier-carton (Fig. 2 dividing the blank :into panels 21, 22 23, 24 and 25. Panels 21 and 25 are, in this blank, of the same size and are the end panels on the strip, which end panels are formed with .foldin'g creases 26, 27 to provide end marginal portions 28, 29 that areadapte'd to fold to opposed engaging relation between the two rows of cans 3b.

The panels 22, 'Z iare in' opposedxrelation forming the side panels .of each carrier carton, while the panel 23 extends over one ofthe endsof thecans (preferably the upper ends) a and panels 21 and 25', together, form the bottom of the carton.

The inner cartons 16' are preferably wrapped around the two rows of cans Gthree cans in a row) so that the panel 23 is lowermost and the-end marginal portions 2%, 29 are then tucked in between the rows of cans, after which the inner carton is invertedto the position shown in Fig. 2.

The top panel or wall 23 of each of the inner panels is formed with .a pairof spaced openings 32 that provide finger openings for the fingers of a hand so that the filledinner carton may be lifted and carried as a unit.

These openings 32 are positioned to be between the rows of cans 3b and over the open space that is centrally of each of the four adjacent cans at the end of each row, thece'ntr'alpa'ir' of cans being common to each of the four in the example shown.

The method of packaging the cans, includes the step of positioning two corresponding rows of cans to gether in substantiallyengaging side ,by side relation and then folding the strip-like inner blank 16 around each group of two rows leaving one of the sides of the end cans of said rows exposed, since the strip when folded about the rows virtually forms an open-ended rectangularly sided tube. Prererapiy the lengths of the panels forming the sides and top the direction of the folding creases, is slightly shorter than the rows of cans so that the chimes 33 of the end cans will project slightly beyond the open ends of each inner carton. Cuts substantially the same as those indicated at 11, 12, 13, 14 in Fig. 1 are formed along the main folding creases 17, 18, 19, through which the chimes on the cans in both of the rows project so as to hold the cans in the inner carton. The portions of the blank 16 inside the curve of each cut is indicated at 34*, and when the blank is folded, these portions will project outwardly so that said portions along both edges of the panel 23 will remain coplanar with the panel, and the same will follow with panels 21 and 25 along creases 17 and 20. 7

When the inner cartons are wrapped around the groups of cans as above described, four of the filled inner cartons (where a case of twenty-four cans is'desired) are positioned in a row on the panel 8 of the blank 1 with the exposed end cans aligned along the creases 3, 4. In the illustration there will be eight of such cans equally spaced along each of said creases and each of these cans will be adjacent to one of the cuts 12, 13 with the chimes 33 projecting from the ends of the inner cartons 16.

When panels 7, 9 are folded perpendicularly to panel 8 and over the exposed sides of the end cans of the rows thereof that are in the inner cartons, the projecting chimes 33 of said end cans will project through the cuts 12, 13 that are along the creases 2, 3 and also the chimes at the other ends of said cans will project through the cuts 11, 14 that are along the creases 2, 5 when panels 6, 10 are folded over the tops of the cans, as best seen in Fig. 4. The portions 35 inside the curve of each of the arcuate cuts along the creases will remain coplanar with the panel that is adjacent to the one into which the cuts extend, the same as described for the blank 16,

The wider top panel 6 is preferably first folded against the tops 'of the inner cartons 16 and then the narrower panel 10 is folded to overlap the marginal portion of, the panel 6 at the end of the blank 1 (Figs. 2, 3, 4).

While glue may be used between these panels 6, 10, they are preferably held together and to the inner eartons 16 by special interlocking means as follows:'

The panel 10 is formed at spaced points with generally T-shaped tabs 36 each of which has a relatively short leg directed toward the crease 5 that is adjacent thereto, with the heads of the Ts aligned parallel with said crease and with the adjacent end edge of the striplike blank. While there are preferably four of these tabs; one for each inner carton, it is important that at least tabs be provided for the end cartons.

The panel 6 that is adapted to underlie the panel 10 is provided with rectangular openings 37 that are in a row along but spaced a relatively short distance from the end edge of the blank 1 that is opposite to panel iii. These openings 37 are not as long as the heads of tabs 36, but are disposed directly below said tabs when the panel 10 overlies panel 6. Upon pushing the tabs 36 downwardly, they will swing about the short legs of said tabs and the wings 38 of the heads of the T tabs 36 will yield so that the heads can pass through said openings 37. 2

These openings 37 are positioned so as to be directly over one of the openings 32 in each of the top panels 23 of each inner carton 16, and the diameter of each opening 32 is also less than the length, of the head of eachtab 36, hence the said wings 38 on the heads of tabs 36 will also yield to pass through said openings 32, and as soon as said wings 38 are extended through and bottom of such tube, in

. 4 shifting of the inner cartons 16 out of the open ends of the outer blank 1.

In this connection it may be noted that similar T head construction and openings therefore are along the crease lines 26, 27 in the inner cartons for holding panels 21, 25 in coplanar relationship, as shown in my said copending application.

In the package as shown in Figs. 2, 4, two of the lateral outer sides of the package are the outermost sides the end cartons held within the outer carton or blank 1', and these sides will bear the name of the contents enclosed by the inner cartons, or the trademark or other desired symbol, such as'indicated at 40 in Fig. 2.

' Thus the imprint on the inner cartons not only serves the openings in panels 6, 23 they will spring outwardly V or to a position extending below the panels 23. thus locking the panels 10, 6, 23 together and preventing any to i' my the contents of the case without the necessity for any imprint on the outer blank, but it also serves to identify each of the inner cartons after they have been removed from the case or outer carton.

It is to be understood that the invention as hereinabo-ve specifically described is not necessarily to be re stricted to the precise details so described, but includes modifications that may come within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A package comprising: a plurality of parallel straight rows of the same number of cylindrical cans of corresponding size, said cans having radially outwardly projecting chimes at their ends and positioned with the end cans of said rows in alignment in direction normal to the direction of said rows; correspondinginner cartons enclosing separate of said rows with the lateral sides of the end cans of the rows facing oppositely outwardly of said rows in direction longitudinally thereof being exposed and with the chimes on said end cans projecting at said lateral sides from said inner cartons, said inner cartons being in a single row in side by side engaging relation and a single outer carton enclosing said inner cartons holding them together in said side by side engaging relation and extending over the exposed sides of said end cans of said rows; the oppositely outwardly facing sides of the end cartons of said single row of inner cartons being exposed, and interengaging means on said outer carton and on certain of said inner cartons releasably securing them together and around said cans. 1

2. A package comprising: a plurality of parallel straight rows of the same number of cylindrical cans of corresponding size, said cans having radially outwardly projecting chimes at their ends and positioned with the end cans of said rows in alignment in direction normal to the direction of said rows; corresponding inner'cartons enclosing separate of said rows with the lateral sides of the end cans of the rows facing oppositely outwardly of said rows in direction longitudinally thereof being exposed and with the chimes on said end cans projecting at said lateral sides from said inner cartons, said inner cartons being in a single row in side by side engaging relation and a single outer carton enclosing said inner cartons holding them together in said side by side engaging relation and extending over the exposed sides of said end cans of said rows; the oppositely outwardly facing sides of the end cartons of said single row of inner cartons being exposed, and interengaging means on said outer carton and on certain of said inner cartons releasably securing them together and around Saidcans, the last mentioned means including tabs on said outer carton extending through one of the sides of saidcarton of said inner cartons to positions between adjacent pairs of cans enclosed by said inner cartons. V

3. A package comprising: a plurality of parallel straight rows of the same number of cylindrical cans of-corresponding size, said cans having radially outwardly projecting chimes at their ends and positioned with the end cans of said rows in alignment in direction normal to the direction of said rows; corresponding inner cartons enclosing separate of said rows with the lateral sides of the end cans of the rows facing oppositely outwardly of said rows in direction longitudinally thereof being exposed and with the chimes on said end cans projecting at said lateral sides from said inner cartons, said inner cartons being in a single row in side by side engaging relation and a single outer carton enclosing said inner cartons holding them together in said side by side engaging relation and extending over the exposed sides of said end cans of said rows; the oppositely outwardly facing sides of the end cartons of said single row of inner cartons being exposed, and interengaging means on said outer carton and on certain of said inner'cartons releasably securing them together and around said cans, said outer carton comprising a strip-like blank having its end marginal portions in overlapping relation one over the other and over one of the ends of the cans enclosed by said inner cartons, registering openings formed in certain of said inner cartons below said marginal portions and in the marginal portion below the other end marginal portion, tabs on the outermost of said marginal portions extending through said registering openings and between adjacent pairs of cans in said carton of said inner cartons holding said outer carton around said inner cartons.

4. A package comprising: a plurality of parallel straight rows of cans of the same number of cylindrical cans of corresponding size, said cans having radially outwardly projecting chimes at their ends and positioned with the end cans of said rows in alignment in direction normal to the direction of said rows; corresponding inner cartons enclosing separate of said rows with the lateral sides of the end cans of said rows facing oppositely outwardly of said rows in direction longitudinally thereof being exposed and with the chimes on said end cans projecting at said lateral sides from said inner cartons, said inner cartons being in a single row in side by side engaging relation, an open ended outer carton having walls extending around said single row of inner cartons transversely of said single row including lateral walls extending over said exposed end cans of the rows of cans within the latter with the edges of said outer carton at its open ends substantially even with the lateral sides of the cartons of said inner row that are at the extreme ends of said inner row, and means on the said lateral walls of said outer carton engaging the chimes on the end cans in at least the end cartons of said row of inner cartons against movement of the inner cartons of cans out of the open ends of said outer carton whereby said inner cartons will be held in said outer carton.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,822,576 Greve Sept. 8, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS 335,838 Great Britain Oct. 2, 1930 

